Ballechin 2007 (Signatory) (60.1%)

An 11 year old Ballechin from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2007, from cask 219, bottled at 60.1%, one of 267 bottles. Ballechin is Edradour's heavily peated malt, smoke laid over a rich, oily Highland spirit. It once supplied blends such as House of Lords and King's Ransom.

Worked through worm tubs from heavily peated malt for a smoky, oily spirit, for a heavy, smoky spirit with an oily depth. Maturation came in a Red Wine cask, layered over the rich Edradour make. In integration lactones (coconut) and vanillin (vanilla) join the smoke, the dried fruit deepening beneath. Long ageing turns the rich make towards dried fruit, fig and a soft spice. It keeps the old ways, with an open cast iron mash tun, Oregon pine washbacks and worm tub condensers. The distillery sits in a pocket glen at Balnauld, in the hills above Pitlochry in Perthshire.

Bottled at a cask strength 60.1%, it is rich. Woodsmoke, oily malt and a dried fruit, with red berry and a dry spice from the cask. A dried fruit and a tarry oak give it depth. Peat smoke, dried fruit and a soft oak see out a long finish. This is a rich, smoky Highland single malt.